Man slashed in Sikh temple

Police confirmed they had taken a man to the Manukau station after the incident. Photo / File

A man was slashed in the face with a religious knife after an altercation at an Auckland temple yesterday.

Police were called to the Otahuhu Sikh Temple and confirmed that they had taken a man to the Manukau station after the incident.

The Weekend Herald has learned the altercation happened just after 6am.

Vicky Singh, 24, who was praying in the gurdwara, said he heard two men shouting and he rushed to the back of the temple building.

"I saw one of them injured, his faced had slash wounds and blood was dripping down," he said. "Someone said the other man had used the religious knife to attack this man."

A kirpan, a ceremonial sword or dagger carried by baptised Sikhs, is believed to have been used in the confrontation.

Another temple member, who did not want to be named, said both men arrived from India four months ago, and the victim was a prayer leader.